2015 Rugby World Cup
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This article contains information about a future rugby union tournament, and is likely to contain information of a speculative nature. The content may change as the event approaches and more information becomes available. |
| 2015 Rugby World Cup | |
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| Preceded by | 2011 Rugby World Cup |
| Succeeded by | 2019 Rugby World Cup |
The 2015 Rugby World Cup will be the 8th edition of the tournament. The host was announced on 28 June 2009, along with the host of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. At a Special Meeting in Dublin on 28 June 2009.[1] It was decided that England will be the host nation.
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[edit] Submission of interest
The International Rugby Board requested that any member unions wishing to host this tournament or the 2019 Rugby World Cup should indicate their interest by 15 August 2008. This would be purely to indicate interest. No details had to be provided at this stage.
A record ten unions indicated interest in hosting the 2015 and/or the 2019 events. The 2015 tournament received interest from nine different nations; however, one of the potential bidders, Russia, chose to withdraw in February 2009 and concentrate instead on a bid for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[2]
Australia announced on Monday 20 April 2009 that they were withdrawing their bid for the 2015 event due to financial reasons.[3]
Scotland announced on Wednesday 29th April 2009 that they were withdrawing their bid for the 2015 event because they were unable to secure an agreement with the English, Irish and Welsh unions to co-host the event.[4]
Ireland announced on Friday 1st May 2009 that they were withdrawing their bid for the 2015 event due to financial reasons.[5]
Wales had initially announced that they were seeking two bid proposals for the 2015 World Cup. Both were joint bids, the first with England and the second with all three of the other home unions of England, Scotland and Ireland. However, an agreement could not be reached with the other unions concerning either of these bids. As Wales did not submit a bid for the 2015 tournament by the final submission date of 8th May 2009, they are not a candidate nation.[6] However, the Welsh Rugby Union have backed England’s bid for the event and should this bid be successful, it is widely thought that some games would be played at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
[edit] Bid details[edit] EnglandIn September 2007 the Guardian reported that the RFU had decided to submit a bid. It was also claimed that it very strong chance of success because the IRB now believes that the 2011 tournament might make a loss, therefore making it particularly important to ensure a profit, which is considered a strong point of England hosting.[7]. BBC News reported in February 2009 that the intent was for a solo bid from the RFU, but with the possibility of some matches being played in Scotland, Wales or Ireland [8]. It was hoped the 2015 World Cup would add to Britain's 'Decade of Sport' (Including the 2012 Summer Olympics). To add to the list even further, The Football Association have placed a bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup. The chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, Francis Baron, said that the tournament would target sales of three million tickets.
On 13 May 2009, the BBC reported that the Rugby Football Union had confirmed its bid, with many association football grounds intended for use as well as the national rugby stadium at Twickenham. One Welsh ground, the Millennium Stadium, is proposed to be used. [9]
All capacities are current.
[edit] ItalyThe pledge of the bid is a promise declaring that Italy want to host "For the Enlargement of the Frontiers of Our Sport". It is a carefully planned slogan which is, no doubt, truthful and relevant to the current landscape of World Cup rugby given that 2007 was the first time that the Rugby World Cup was hosted in a non-Anglo country. The Italian bid offers the largest cities and stadiums in the country and promises a fast and outstanding domestic train system to ensure visitors easy access to the games and between cities. The Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) also included the importance of the history of Italy, the population and the growth of rugby since Italy joined the 6 Nations in 2000 as reasons for hosting a World Cup. The success of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France has been referred to by the FIR as a key for their bidding and for why they should host. Fans from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales went to matches in France in large numbers as did thousands of U.K. based South Africans, Australians and New Zealands and Italian / Spanish based Argentinians. Italy, is therefore, guaranteed of receiving a massive number of visitors which should be larger than what France received as the profile of the Rugby World Cup continues to grow.
The Stadio Olimpico in Rome has been selected as the venue to host the final and the first match of the tournament. It hosted the 1990 Soccer World Cup final and has a capacity larger than that used at Stade de France for the 2007 Rugby World Cup final. Milan and Naples have been included as the other super sized venues. The entire list is a selection if large stadiums that are spread across the country. Unlike what England, Japan and South Africa are offering, no city will make use of more than one venue. Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France has also been included as the tenth proposed venue.
Former Italy fly half, Diego Dominguez, has stated his desire to campaign on behalf of an Italian bid for 2015.[10] An Italian bid to host the Rugby World Cup in either 2015 or 2019 was confirmed on 20 July 2008, with Federazione Italiana Rugby president Giancarlo Dondi saying, "It's a new cornerstone in the development of Italian rugby of which the whole movement should be proud." Rugby has been growing increasingly popular in Italy in recent years, with improved crowds at both international matches and the domestic Super 10 competition. Most recently, the Magners League in the Celtic nations has opened the door to Italian involvement, with two Italian teams possibly being admitted to the league for the 2010–11 season. [edit] JapanJapan is seen as a favourite for 2019 Rugby World Cup[11] after finishing runner-up in the bidding for the 2011 event. Japan is seen as having a lot to offer in terms of growth in the key Asian market, and their experience in co-hosting the successful 2002 FIFA World Cup is seen as a boost. Also attractive to the IRB is that rugby in Japan has a developing following and player numbers larger than some of the Six Nations. In fact, it has 126,000 registered players and this, in addition to its population of 127 million, its vast economy and its ability to place rugby before a new Asian audience are what have made it the front-runner for hosting rights. The Top League is an increasingly exciting showcase for Japanese rugby and there is incredible excitement in Japan about Japan's entry into RWC. Japan is a developed nation with a sophisticated tourism sector, with sporting facilities and infrastructure already in place and ready for use in the tournament. The Japan Rugby Football Union officially submitted its tender to the International Rugby Board in May 2009.[11]
In addition to the nine venues located in Japan, one venue each from Singapore and Hong Kong have also been proposed to host five matches respectively.[12]
[edit] South AfricaThe South African Rugby Union (SARU) have confirmed that they are biding for the 2015 tournament.[13]. They had launched an unsuccessful bid for 2011. The strengths of a South African bid would be that it is in the same time zone as Europe the wealthiest television market, that they are the current World Cup holders, that they previously hosted the tournament with great success and that they are currently in the process of building a whole series of new stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On the 7 May 2009 the South Africa Rugby Union delivered its application to the International Rugby Board ahead of the Friday 8 May deadline. [14] [edit] References
[edit] External links
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